US Army Gives $223 Million Delivery Order to TeleCommunication Systems – Satellite Today

[Via Satellite 10-14-2015] The U.S. Army has issued a delivery order to TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) for Micro Satellite (Microsat) Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), baseband networking equipment, and associated engineering services. The order has a total value of $223.4 million, if all options are exercised through September 2020. The initial funding on this order is $9.9 million for the base 12-month period starting September 2015.

TCS has partnered with Thales Defense and Security subsidiary Tampa Microwave to provide MicroVSAT 0.65M and 0.95M terminals and 1.3M flyaway VSAT terminals. Another subcontractor, Klas Telecom, will team with TCS for baseband networking equipment as part of the overall MicroVSAT solution. TCS’s MicroVSAT family achieves data rates up to 10 MBS to provide a terrestrial large pipe in geographically challenged areas.